Parroquia Inmaculada Concepción, Buenos Aires, Catholic church in Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Parroquia Inmaculada Concepción, also known as La Redonda, is a Catholic church in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Its circular plan and Renaissance Revival details, inspired by the Church of the Great Mother of God in Turin and the Pantheon in Rome, give it a form that stands out from the surrounding streets.
The site began as a small chapel dedicated to San Benito, built by a landowner so that his workers could attend Mass. In 1828, Don José Julián Arriola donated the chapel and the surrounding land to the Church, and the present building was later raised on that spot.
Locals call it La Redonda because of its round shape, and the nickname has stuck for generations. Inside, the circular seating arrangement means that people face each other as much as the altar, which gives services a feeling of gathering around a common center.
The church sits at the corner of La Pampa and 11 de Septiembre streets, a short walk from the main avenues of Belgrano. Visitors can enter through the main door on the corner, and the circular layout makes it easy to find a seat with a view of the altar from any angle.
The design borrows directly from two famous buildings: the Church of the Great Mother of God in Turin and the Pantheon in Rome. Look up at the dome, and you can see how the circular plan creates a sense of openness that is rare in neighborhood churches.
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